Automated imaging machine

ABSTRACT

A machine for automatically producing images from photoelectrophoretic suspensions using a transparent conductive cylindrical electrode section which interacts with an imaging electrode in the presence of an electric field and electromagnetic radiation in image configuration. The image on the transparent cylindrical electrode interfaces with a transfer member which, under the influence of an electric field, transfers the image particles from the transparent electrode to a support material. The transparent electrode is cleaned under the influence of flood illumination readying it for repetitive cycles.

United States'Patent Egnaczak et al.

AUTOMATED IMAGING MACHINE Raymond K. Egnacmk, Williamson; Gino F. Squassoni, Pittsford, both of N.Y.

Xerox Corporation, Rochester, N.Y.

Nov. 14, 1969 inventors:

Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No.:

US. Cl...' ..355/8, ll8/637, 355/3 Int. Cl. G03g 15/00 field of Search ..355/3, 8; 118/70, 224, 637;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,427,242 2/ l 969 Mihajlov ..96/! 3,330,180 7/1967 Ferguson et a]. ..355/8 546,506 9/ l 895 Carlisle ..l 18/70 X llllln...

g l id Feb. 15, 1972 668,562 2/ l90l Imschenetzky ..l 18/224 X Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-Robert P. Greiner Attorney-James J. Ralabate, David C. Petre and Barry Jay Kesselman [57] ABSTRACT A machine for automatically producing images from photoelectrophoretic suspensions using a transparent conductive cylindrical electrode section which interacts with an imaging electrode in the presence of an electric field and electromagnetic radiation in image configuration. The image on the transparent cylindrical electrode interfaces with a transfer member which, under the influence of an electric field, transfers the image particles from the transparent electrode to a support material. The transparent electrode is cleaned under the influence of flood illumination readying it for repetitive cycles.

20 Claims, 36 Drawing Figures PATENTEBFEB 15 I972 13. 642.365

sum 01 or 25 INVENTORS RAYMOND K. EGNACZAK GINO F. SQUASSONI A T-TORN5 Y PAIENTEDFEB 15 1972 SHEET DZUF 25 Pmmanm 15 I972 3.642 36S SHEET OBUF 25 SHEET OSOF 25 PAIENTEDFEB 15 1812v mum] ll-IIWI PATENTEDFEBISIQTZ 3,642,365

sum OBUF 2s PATENTED FEB 1 5 I97? SHEET D70F 25 PATENTEUFEB 15 I972 33. 642.365

sum 08 0F 25 PATENTEBFEB 15 4912 3. 642.365

sum 09 0F 25 H6. 11 Km PATENIEDFEB-15 I972 SHEET 11UF 25 PATENTEDFEB15 I972 3,642. 365

SHEET 130F 25 FIG. 18

PATENTEBFEB ws me 3. 842.365

SHEET 1; OF 25 4/2 43 4/8 444 L. Qma

PATENTEUFEBISISTZ 3.842.365 SHEET IBUF 25 454 4I6ZQ mxmxml PATENTEUFEB 15 I972 SHEET 17UF 25 QMW an R wow 6? I Q-v mm an 9? m a? wnvk wm wwfl h W WWWL J N. i WW WWM ww mwm iwwwk rii I I mm} H i E R. Q Hi. 9%] E mwv E E i l A! l F f F N? R mm Ev wmw R PATENTEBFEB 15 I972 3. 642.365

sum. 19 ur 25 

1. A machine for imaging comprising: cylindrical housing means, a cylindrical transparent member maintained in said housing means, means operable on said housing means to rotate said housing means and said transparent member through a predetermined path; a first imaging member; means for interposing the first imaging member into the predetermined path at a first position; means for presenting image radiation at the first position; means to couple an electrical source between said transparent member and said first imaging member; means for supplying material between said transparent member and said first imaging member capable of forming an image from the radiation at the first position.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including: image transfer means cooperatively associated with said transparent member; means to move said image transfer means into said predetermined path at a second position; means to couple an electrical source to said transfer means; cleaning means to clean the surface of the transparent member, and means to move said cleaning means into the predetermined path at a third position to contact said transparent member rotating therethrough.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 including: a second imaging member; means for interposing the second imaging member into the predetermined path; means for presenting image radiation at the interposition of said second imaging member and said path, and means to couple an electrical source to said second imaging member.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means for interposing said first imaging member further includes means to move said first imaging member into and out of the predetermined path at the first imaging position, and said means for interposing said second imaging member includes means to move said second imaging member into and out of the predetermined path at the first position.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means for interposing said second imaging member locates said second imaging member at said first position and said apparatus further includes means to remove said first imaging member from said predetermined path.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 further including a carriage for mounting said first and second imaging members; means for moving said carriage relative to the transparent member; means for moving each imaging member relative to the other radially from and toward said path at the first position.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for supplying material capable of forming an image includes a supply sump; applicator means partially within the sump and contacting said first imaging member; means adjacent said first imaging member between said applicator means contact and said first position for uniformly spreading materials between said means and said first imaging member.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for interposing said first imaging member into and out of said path at said first position includes means to move said first imaging member radially toward and from said path and means to move said first imaging member in a second direction relative to said predetermined path.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means to rotate said housing means and said transparent member moves said transparent member at a constant angular velocity through the predetermined path.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for presenting image radiation at said first position includes a scanning optical system having an object plane adapted for holding an object to be projected, illumination means adjacent said object plane, projecting means, and an image plane coincident with the first position in the predetermined path of the transparent member, said scanning optical system Adapted to present an image at the first position flowing at a velocity approximately equal to the movement of the transparent member thereat.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cylindrical housing means includes a first aperture for maintaining said transparent member and a second aperture diametrically opposed to the first aperture and having at least the area of said first aperture.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for presenting image radiation at the first position includes optical projection means having an optical path through the second aperture in said housing means and the transparent member maintained in the first aperture.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said second aperture of said housing means is of a size sufficiently large to enable the imaging radiation to pass therethrough to the rotating transparent member for producing the object at the object plane on the surface of the transparent member passing at said first position.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said optical system further includes a housing for preventing ambient light from striking said transparent member at the first position from inside said cylindrical housing means.
 15. The apparatus of claim 2 including actuator means for selectively moving said components including said first imaging member, said image transfer means, and said cleaning means into and out of the predetermined path, said actuator means being coupled to the rotation of said cylindrical housing means.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said actuator means are operatively associated with fluid cylinder drives.
 17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said actuator means are operatively associated with cam means to move said components.
 18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said actuator means are operatively associated with solenoids to move said components.
 19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for interposing the first imaging member into the predetermined path at the first position includes means to move said first imaging member in a direction toward and from said path.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said means to move said first member moves said member perpendicularly to said path. 